MLB Hot Stove 2019-20

[JWags85]

Yeah, that's no age for a baseball manager.

A U.S. president, obviously, but not a manager!

Seriously, though, didn't Jack McKeon come out of retirement at 70-something and lead the Marlins to a championship? And then, IIRC, he came back again when he was in his 80s ... but that didn't go as well.

He was fired from the Reds and retired in 2000 at 70.  And then came back 2 years later out of retirement for that 2003 Marlins WS team.  LaRussa would be nearly 5 years older and a full decade out of managing by the time next year started.  Yikes

[The Sultan]

He was fired from the Reds and retired in 2000 at 70.  And then came back 2 years later out of retirement for that 2003 Marlins WS team.  LaRussa would be nearly 5 years older and a full decade out of managing by the time next year started.  Yikes

McKeon actually came back in 2011 at age 80 to finish out the Marlins season after their manager was fired in June.  2012 was the Ozzie Guillen clusterf**k.

Hiring a 76 year old LaRussa just seems like an idea that is going to look bad in retrospect. 

[Pakuni]

Hiring a 76 year old LaRussa just seems like an idea that is going to look bad in retrospect.

Ha. It looks bad in prospect.
Connie Mack managed well into his 80s. Of course, he wasn't winning many games by then.

[The Sultan]

If LaRussa dresses like Mack did, I would be completely on-board.

[MU82]

I still have a profile up on LinkedIn, and every so often I get an email telling me that I appeared in X many searches.

I opened the one I received today to see that 3 companies had looked at my profile: 2 I had never heard of and ... the Cubbies.

They probably want me to teach Javy how to go from best slider on Earth to best in the entire universe.

[Lennys Tap]

If LaRussa dresses like Mack did, I would be completely on-board.

Does LaRussa still have too long, too dark hair (at 76)? He's a tool.

[MU82]

Wow ... what a boneheaded move by Marcell Ozuna.

I rarely see the 10-year-olds I umpire fail to tag up properly at third base.

[The Sultan]

Could you hire a guy who is more anti-Astros than Dusty?  It's almost comical.

#oldtakesexposed

Yeah I was wrong about this one.  Very wrong.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

#oldtakesexposed

Yeah I was wrong about this one.  Very wrong.

Until proven wrong, I still think Dusty will fail to win a WS as a manager.

Tonight, the lights may finally be bright enough for him to eff this up. If not, we may be waiting for the World Series for his inexplicable managerial moves. Nevertheless, I still think they're coming.

[MU82]

Until proven wrong, I still think Dusty will fail to win a WS as a manager.

Tonight, the lights may finally be bright enough for him to eff this up. If not, we may be waiting for the World Series for his inexplicable managerial moves. Nevertheless, I still think they're coming.

Dusty actually has managed very well this series.

He is as good as any manager in modern times at getting players to believe in themselves and each other. And he has always been very good at fostering the "us against the world" mentality, which is what the Astros are facing.

What happens is that usually a couple/few years into his tenure anywhere, players start tuning him out. That's pretty common in managing/coaching, regardless of the sport. What separates the OK/good from the very good/great is that the latter have staying power. They also usually have some personnel say and excellent relationships with owners.

Dusty obviously hasn't been a great strategy guy, he isn't in love with advanced metrics, and he is more likely to go with his gut than most. When it works, as with Greinke the other night, he gets some praise. If that hadn't worked, it would have been rip city. But that goes with the territory.

All in all, if I had ran a team that needed a quick fix and needed a real positive vibe in the clubhouse to overcome adversity or internal strife, Dusty would be near the top of my list. If I needed somebody to get a good to very good team over the hump to greatness, he would not be on my list at all.

As a person, I always liked Dusty. He cares about his fellow humans and about leaving a positive mark on the world.

[PGsHeroes32]

Wow ... what a boneheaded move by Marcell Ozuna.

I rarely see the 10-year-olds I umpire fail to tag up properly at third base.

That shifted the momentum big time.

Dodgers still alive now.

[MU82]

That shifted the momentum big time.

Dodgers still alive now.

Yep. Would have been 3-0 with a runner on third and two out. Costly, stupid mistake.

[MU82]

Hou in 7

LA in 5

5 days after I posted this, the Astros were down 3-0 and the Dodgers were down 2-0. Beautiful predictions.

LA did end up winning (in 7 not 5) and Hou did end up getting to a 7th game (but losing), so I feel a little less dopey.

The last couple games of the LA-Atl series were tense and entertaining. The Dodgers made all the plays, got all the big hits, and Roberts made all the right moves.

End result had to be a big relief for Kershaw, who gets yet another chance to redeem himself in the postseason.

Not ready to make a WS prediction yet. I'm sure everybody is all tingly with anticipation.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I can't take another LA championship, especially in the same year. One is more than enough...

[Billy Hoyle]

I can't take another LA championship, especially in the same year. One is more than enough...

It will either be two LA or two Tampa titles in 2020, with pretty good chance of Tampa getting a chance at a third.

[CTWarrior]

Wow ... what a boneheaded move by Marcell Ozuna.

I rarely see the 10-year-olds I umpire fail to tag up properly at third base.

An equally boneheaded move by Austin Riley to kill the rally in the 4th.  Should have been second and third with one out, instead it was runner on first with 2 outs.  Swanson kept that rundown alive plenty long enough and as soon as he headed for home, if Riley takes off for third he makes it easily especially if he didn't back off toward 2nd for some unknown reason.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Really looking forward to the WS. Two best teams in baseball. Last night's Game 7 was fantastic.

[shoothoops]

Nothing definitive.....There have been some discussions of the White Sox hiring a young manager, and bringing on LaRussa in an advisory role.

[MU82]

Really looking forward to the WS. Two best teams in baseball. Last night's Game 7 was fantastic.

I can't watch 4 hours of baseball, but I did watch from the bottom of the 6th on last night, and it was tension-filled, exciting baseball.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

I predict LAD wins in 6 games, with Betts winning MVP.

[MU82]

LA in 7.

(MVP? Mike Trout, of course.)

[muwarrior69]

They should play these games in Omaha as they played a typical college baseball season. One big * for this season, if you can call it a season.

[The Sultan]

It is what it is.  No one asterisks the 1981 World Series or the 1983 Super Bowl.

[CreightonWarrior]

They should play these games in Omaha as they played a typical college baseball season. One big * for this season, if you can call it a season.

too damn cold here!

[shoothoops]

A reminder that there were 23 other first round picks ahead of Walker Buehler.